Apparatus for washing cups, mugs, drinking glasses, and similar articles



April 27, 1943.` E. v vARLEY l t e .n e s t e G S m 5 K N m Dm @no UR M.AM sm, PLl UT. CM1 GIN msp HMA A W ...n @MF F sm UG M. R A w A April 27, i943.

E. v. VARLEY 2,317,829 APPARATUS FOR -WASHING CUPS, MUGS, DRINKING n GLASSES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed April .1. 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 27, 1943. E. v. VARLEY 2,317,829

APPARATUS FOR WASHlNG CUPS, MUGS, DRINKING 4 GLASSES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES 4 Filed April I l, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 M Vl /nvenar A; #www Apri; 27, 1943.

E. v. vARLr-:Y 2,317,829 AAPPARATU OR WASHING CUPS, MUGS, DRINKING GL SES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed April 1, 19,40

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 A l tar/veg y APlll 27, 1943- E. v. vARLEY 2,317,829

APPARATUS FOR WASHING CUPS, MUGS, DRINKING GLASSES, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed April 1, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Attorney Patented Apr. 27, 1943 APPARATUS FOR WASHING CUPS, MUGS,

DRINKING GLASSES, AND SIMILAR ARTI- CLES Ernest Vernon Varley, London, England, assignor to Staines Kitchen Equipment Company Limited' Londom England, a British company Application Aprlf 1i, 1940, Serial No. 327,093 In Great Britain May 23, 1939',

9. Claims.

This invention relates toapparatus for-Washing or cleaning hollow articles such as` cups, mugs, drinking glasses and the like-of the kind in which kthe washing' or cleaning is effected by subjecting each article to a brushing or rubbing action.

One of the objects ofthe present invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the above type which shall be relatively simple in construction,

continuous in operation, and` capableeffectively of washing or cleaning a plurality of one or more kinds of hollow articles at the same time.

An apparatus according to the present invention broadly comprises brushes which serve both to support the articles and to clean the interiors thereof, and one or more further brushes for cleaning the exteriors of the articles thus supported, the arrangement being such that the brushes for cleaning the interiors of the articles rotate within the positioned articles and also move bodily in relation to the one or more exterior brushes so as to carry the positioned articles past and in contact with said one or more exterior brushes.

The term brush used throughout this speciiication is intended to cover any device, including a brush, which will eiiect the washing or cleaning operations by a brushing or rubbing action.

In the preferred arrangement, an apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of spindles which are each fitted, or adapted to be fitted, with a brush over-Which an article to be cleaned may be positioned, said spindles being individually rotatable about their own axes for cleaning the interiors of the posi# tioned articles and collectively rotatable as a unit about a common axis for the purpose of carrying said articles past and in contact with one or more further and stationary brushes for cleaning the exteriors of said articles.

In this preferred arrangement simultaneous rotation of the spindles about their individual axes may be produced as a result of ytheir collective rotation as a unit about the common axis so that the washing or cleaning of the interior surfaces of the articles is eiiected simultaneously with the washing or cleaning of the exterior surfaces.

In one embodiment according to which two sets of stationary brushes are employed for cleaning the exterior surfaces, said brushes being mounted so as to oppose each other, the spindles carrying the interior cleaning brushes are supported radially by inner and outer supports to form a wheellike structure which revolves between the opposing stationary brushes.

An apparatus according to the present invention preferably embodiesA three sets of brushes which operate simultaneously on different surfaces of each article, one such unit on the interiorA surfaces and the other'units on the exterior side and base surfaces respectively. The brush op.- erating on the base of each article may be aiilxed to a pivoted member which is automatically moved into and out of a position where it engages the bottom of each positioned article, said members moving round with the articles as theyA rotate past the one or more exterior brushes, the cleaning of the base of each article being effected as a result of the twisting movement which each article receives in consequence of the revolving of the interior brushes over which they are positioned.

To increase the scouring effect. of the rotary brushes on the interior surfaces of the articles such brushes may be mounted eccentrically on the outer or upper ends of their spindles so that said brushes are caused to perform a sweeping motion around said interior surfaces.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and carried into effect examples of both the aforesaid embodiments will now be described by 'aid of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through one-half of an apparatus according to the rstmentioned embodiment showing the rotary brushes and the pivoted retaining and base cleaning members in elevation.

Fig. 1A is a vertical section through the other half of theapparatus referred to in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofthe same apparatus.

Fig. 3is a side elevation showing the drive for rotating the wheel-like member which carries the rotary brush supporting spindles. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illus# tratng, to an enlarged scale, one of the rotary brushes with a cup in position for cleaning and the associated pivoted member in the retaining and base cleaning position.

The apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 comprises a water-retaining tank I having a semicircular base and flat vertical sides. Extending across the tank and mounted within bearings in the opposing sides thereof is a driving shaft 2 which aifords a driving support for a wheel-like structure which rotates within the tank and between two pairs of opposing and stationary brushes 3.

The Wheel-like structure aforesaid comprises a Y the hub. This flanged wheel, the hub of which is rigidly aixed to the driving shaft 2, serves as a carrier for a plurality of radially arranged spindles l, which extend outwards from the hub 4 and through the peripheral iiange 5, said hub and flange forming bearings wherein each spindle is free to rotate.

The drive means for actuating driving shaft 2 is shown in detail in Fig. 3 as follows: A motor 35 is mounted on a bracket carried on the lowermost crossbar of the frame and actuates pulley 3S, likewise mounted on a bracket on the lowermost crossbar of the frame, through belt 3l. Agear 38, keyed to the pulley shaft, drives intermediate sprocket 39, mounted on a shaft for rotation on the intermediate crossbar of the frame, through chain 40. A gear 4I, keyed tothe intermediate sprocket shaft, drives sprocket 42, which is keyed to the driven shaft 2, through chain 43. A

On the outer end of each spindle, where it projects through the flange 5, is affixed, eccentric to the axis of each spindle, a socket fitting 8 for the detachable reception of a bobbinshaped brush 9 security being afforded by a quickly releasable connection such, for example, as the bayonet joint shown in the drawing. The brushes 9 are shaped and dimensioned so as to fit closely within the interior of a hollow article such as the cup I as illustrated or drinking glasses or mugs, the bristles of the brushes or other devices used being sufhciently yielding as to compensate for differences in the size and shape of the articles the apparatus is required to clean.

The brush carrying spindles 1 -are individually but simultaneously rotated about their axes by means consisting of bevel pinions II which are each mounted on a separate spindle and which collectively mesh with the teeth of a stationary crown wheel I2. In consequence of this simple form of drive each spindle is caused to rotate about its own axis as they are carried around by the flanged wheel in which they are mounted and such motion serves to cause the eccentrically mounted brushes to sweep around within the interior of each article which is positioned thereover and to carry said articles between and in rubbing contact with the opposing bristles of the stationary pairs of brushes 3. As, during this operation, the tank may` be kept partly iilled with heated water so as to cover the brushes 9, each article will in turn be immersed in the water and will, at the same time, have its interior surfaces and sides effectively scrubbed by the said brushes.

To prevent the articles from falling off the rotary eccentrically mounted brushes as the same sweep around within the tank and to ensure that the base of each article is scrubbed at the same time as the other surfaces, means are provided each consisting of a loop-shaped frame member I3 having a flat retaining plate I4 to the inner surface of which is aixed a brush I5. These members, of which there is one to each rotary brush, are axed by their lower or inner ends to a U-shaped frame I6, see Fig. 4, each of which is hingedly attached by a hinge pin I'I to a bracket I8, which in turn isaffixed to the disc 6 of the flanged wheel which carries the radial spindles "I,

Each member I3 is biased to the retaining position shown in Fig. 4, by a spring IS encircling its hinge pin, and is positively turned out of the engaging position as the iianged wheel turns through an arc at the top of its travel, by a curved cam bar 2| which is engaged by a projecting arm 22 carried by each of the frames I6 and which is aixed to the ange 23 of a circular member constituting a mounting for the support of one pair of xed brushes, a similar circular member being provided for the support of the opposite pair of brushes.

The arc of travel during which the frame members I3 are held out of the retaining positions is -suflicient to enable one or a pair of operators to remove each cleaned article as it emerges out of the water and to position a further article for cleaning before the brush is again carried beneath the surface of the water.

In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 1a the cam bar 2I is of such length as to ensure that only one of the'members I 3 is turned out of the engaging position at a time but it will, of course, be appreciated that by suitably extending the cam bar each member I3 may be similarly turned as it is emerging from the liquid so that at least two of the brushes 9 are free at the same time for the removal of a cleaned article and the reception of a further article to be washed.

Where the apparatus is to be used for cleaning articles such as cups which are provided with a projecting handle it is preferred to permit each article to turn so as to present opposite sides to the opposing stationary brushes. This may simply be effected either by making one stationary brush in the leading pair of brushes longer than the opposing brush so that the article will I'lrst be contacted exteriorly with a single brush surface or by making the gap separating the pairs of opposing brushes of such a width as will enable each article as it traverses said space to turn either through half a revolution or so that when it enters between the following pair of opposing brushes it will havev reversed the position it assumed when it passed between the preceding pair of opposing brushes. By either means it is ensured that the whole of the surface constituting the sides of each article will be contacted by the bristles of the stationary brushes. Any other suitable method for the same purpose may however be used, such, for example, as causing each spindle to revolve rst in one direction and then in the opposite direction one or more times during each revolution of the wheel-like structure of which the spindles 'I form a. part. v

By ensuring that the water in the tank is sufficiently heated and that the same is continuously renewed the washed articles will re- 4quire little if any subsequent polishing, and drying will occur naturally and expeditiously.

Various changes and modications may be made to the details of construction of the invention without departing from the broader spirit and scope thereof, as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for washing or cleaning hollow articles such as cups, mugs, drinking glasses or the like, comprising a liquid retaining tank, radially extending spindles mounted collectively for rotation about a horizontal axis and individually for rotation about their own axes, to denne a wheel-like structure, brushes mounted along the outer ends of each spindle for frictionally engaging with and supporting the hollow articles being treated at the inner surfaces of the latter, spaced series of opposing brushes mounted in lateral spaced relationship with respect to those carried on the spindles and the wheel-like structure formed thereby for frictionally engaging the exterior surfaces of the articles being treated as they are rotated by and angularly displaced with the spindles, and additional brushes mounted in longitudinal spaced relationship with respect to said rst named brushes for frictionally engaging the outer ends of the articles carried on the spindles, means for rotating the wheel-like structure about a horizontal axis, means for rotating the individual spindles about their own axes, and means for periodically displacing the additional brushes into and out of engagement with the outer ends of the articles carried on said spindles.

2. Apparatus for washing or cleaning hollow articles such as cups, mugs, drinking glasses or the like, comprising a liquid retaining tank, radially extending spindles mounted collectively for rotation about a horizontal axis and individually for rotation about their own axes, to define a wheel-like structure, brushes mounted along the outer ends of each spindle for frictionally engaging with and supporting the hollow articles being treated at the inner surfaces of the latter, spaced series of opposing brushes mounted in lateral spaced relationship with respect to those carried on the spindles and the wheel-like structure formed thereby for frictionally engaging the exterior surfaces of the articles being treated fas they are rotated by and angularly displaced with the spindles, and additional brushes longitudinally spaced from the ends of said spindles and transversely displaceable with respect thereto for frictionally engaging the outer ends of the articles carried on the spindles, means for rotating the wheel-like structure about a horizontal axis, means for rotating the individual spindles about their own axes, and means for periodically transversely displacing the additional brushes into and out of engagement with the outer ends of the articles carried on said spindles.

3. Apparatus for washing or cleaning hollow articles such as cups, mugs, drinking glasses or the like, comprising a liquid retaining tank, radially extending spindles mounted collectively for rotation about a horizontal axis and individually for rotation about their own axes, to dene a wheel-like structure, brushes mounted along the outer ends of each spindle for frictionally engaging with and supporting the hollow articles being treated at the inner surfaces of the latter, spaced series of opposing brushes mounted in lateral spaced relationship with respect to those carried on the spindles and the wheel-like structure formed thereby for frictionally engaging the exterior surfaces of the articles being treated as they are rotated by and angularly displaced with the spindles, and additional brushes longitudinally spaced from said first named brushes and swingably mounted for transverse movement with respect to said spindles, into and out of engagement with the outer ends of the articles being treated, means for rotating the wheel-like structure about a horizontal axis, means for rotating the individual spindles about their own axes, and means for periodically swingably and transversely displacing the additional brushes into and out of engagement with the outer ends of the articles carried on the spindles.

4. In an apparatus for washing or cleaning hollow articles, such as cups, mugs, drinking glasses and the like, comprising in combination eccentrically mounted rotatable means for supporting and frictionally engaging such articles at their interiors to clean the same, spaced means between which the rotatable means pass for frictionally engaging the exterior of such articles to clean the same, whereby the articles are rotatably displaced relative to the rotatable means, and driving means for simultaneously rotating said rst named means about the axis thereof and angularly displacing the same between the spaced cleaning means, whereby the aforesaid articles are simultaneously cleaned at their interior and exterior surfaces.

5. In an apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each of the rst named means are radially mounted by inner and outer supports to form a wheel-like structure which in turn is mounted to revolve between the spaced cleaning means disposed on opposite sides thereof.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 provided with a device movable into and out of position above the outer end of each said first named means for engaging the bottom of each article supported thereon during the washing and cleaning operation.

'l'. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 provided with a device movable into and out of position above the outer end of each said rst named means for engaging the bottom of each article supported thereon during the washing and cleaning operation, wherein each said device is provided with a brush in pressure contact against the bottom of each supported article, to effect the washing or cleaning of the bottom surfaces thereof.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 provided with a device movable into and out of position above the outer end of each said first named means for engaging the bottom of each article supported thereon during the washing and cleaning operation, and means to automatically displace each such device out of engaging position when each said first named means reaches a predetermined position in its path of travel to permit each cleaned article to be removed.

9. Apparatus in acordance with claim 4 provided with a device movable into and out of position above the outer end of each said rst named means for engaging the bottom of each article supported thereon during the washing and cleaning operation, wherein each said device is provided with a brush in pressure contact against the bottom of each supported article, to effect the washing or cleaning of the bottom surfaces thereof, and means to automatically displace each such device out of engaging position when each said first named means reaches a predetermined position in its path of travel to permit each cleaned article to be removed.

ERNEST VERNON VARLEY. 

